Himatangi

The area was largely undeveloped with rough terrain in 1942, according to a photograph held in the National Library of New Zealand. Himatangi was once the location of the junction between the New Zealand Railways Department's Foxton Branch railway and the Manawatu County Council's Sanson Tramway. Both lines are now closed; use of the Tramway ceased in 1945, followed by the Branch in 1959. In 2005, a study found agricultural pesticides were being rapidly leached into the sandy soil at Himatangi. In 2009, planning approval was granted for the building of a piggery after the landowner agreed to reduce from what he originally proposed. In 2014, the community was used as a trial community for the Horizons Regional Council's emergency readiness plan. The landowner and New Zealand Pork Board had been considering legal action through the Environment Court. In 2019 a regional bus service between Levin and Palmerston North was introduced, providing a weekly return service between Himatangi and Foxton. ==Demographics==

Himatangi locality covers . It is part of the larger Oroua Downs statistical area. Himatangi had a population of 222 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−2.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 36 people (19.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 117 males and 105 females in 81 dwellings. 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 57 people (25.7%) aged under 15 years, 30 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 117 (52.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (8.1%) aged 65 or older. Oroua Downs statistical area Oroua Downs statistical area, which also includes Himatangi Beach and Tangimoana, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Oroua Downs had a population of 1,371 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 117 people (9.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 327 people (31.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 702 males, 657 females, and 9 people of other genders in 582 dwellings. 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 213 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 189 (13.8%) aged 15 to 29, 711 (51.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 258 (18.8%) aged 65 or older. ==Education==

Oroua Downs School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of It opened in 1903. ==References==